[MPWG] Question: Production Plantations in Poland - Hamamelis virginiana

[Goods From The Woods]

Hamamelis virginiana is an indigenous plant to the U.S. and we are USDA 
certified organic wild crop producers of the species. 
I recently did a survey of on line botanical sellers offering certified 
witch hazel and found it was all coming out of Poland.
When I inquired with a major US broker, I was told they had huge 
plantations of it in Poland.
I emailed several Polish exporters, the  agricultural agencies and the 
Consulate to no avail.
Could anyone assist in locating these "huge organic certified Polish 
plantations?"

As an aside, many of common native American species are on the U.S. 
certified organic market as Polish or Hungarian imports. While there 
does seem to be a good deal of organic agriculture producing medicinal 
plants in Poland, I am surprised by the sheer number of native  
medicinal species reported as organically cultivated  in Poland and 
imported to the U.S. as organic material. The certified organic market 
is THE market for native botanicals.

Thus, ny second question:  Is there any research on U.S. imports of 
medicinal plants. I have used several trade data bases both public and 
private search services without much luck.  Seeing that the U.S. market 
for medicinal plants is being met with so many imported botanicals, it 
gives me pause to think about our need to consider American medicinal 
species harvest safeguards.  What if it not an issue, as the market 
might be met by imports, rather than wild American harvest?

Thank you,
Penny Frazier
A Wild Crops Farm